Wind Power

Key Stage 3

Meaning

Wind Power is an energy resource that uses the flow of the wind to generate electricity.

About Wind Power

Wind Power is a renewable energy resource.

Wind has energy in the kinetic energy store of the moving air.

Power

Wind Power can be used to generate electricity.

A diagram of a Wind Turbine.

1. Wind moves past the rotary blades of the turbine.

2. The turbine spins.

3. The turbine causes the generator to turn.

4. The generator makes an electrical current.

Advantages

• Can provide power in places not connected to the national grid.
• Do not produce pollution.
• The running cost is almost nothing.
• No fuel cost.

Disadvantages

• Expensive to build.
• Need over a thousand to generate the power that a single coal power station would make.
• Only work when it’s windy (70-80% of the time)
• If it is too windy they have to be stopped for safety.
• They produce a lot of noise, annoying local people.
• Cannot increase power output when more is needed.

Key Stage 4

Meaning

Wind Power is an energy resource that uses the flow of the wind to generate electricity.

About Wind Power

Wind Power is a renewable energy resource.

Wind has energy in the kinetic energy store of the moving air.

Power

Wind Power can be used to generate electricity.

A diagram of a Wind Turbine.

1. Wind moves past the rotary blades of the turbine.

2. The turbine spins.

3. The turbine causes the generator to turn.

4. The generator makes an electrical current.

Advantages

• Can provide power in places not connected to the national grid.
• Do not produce pollution.
• The running cost is almost nothing.
• No fuel cost.

Disadvantages

• Expensive to build.
• Need over a thousand to generate the power that a single coal power station would make.
• Only work when it’s windy (70-80% of the time)
• If it is too windy they have to be stopped for safety.
• They produce a lot of noise, annoying local people.
• Cannot increase power output when more is needed.

References

AQA

Wind power, page 176, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA

Wind power, page 19, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA

Wind power, page 228, GCSE Chemistry; Student Book, Collins, AQA

Wind power, page 24, GCSE Physics, Hodder, AQA

Wind power, page 279, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 1, Hodder, AQA

Wind power, page 38, GCSE Physics; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA

Wind power, page 47, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Physics, CGP, AQA

Wind power, page 49, GCSE Physics; The Complete 9-1 Course for AQA, CGP, AQA

Wind power, pages 32-3, 41, GCSE Physics; Student Book, Collins, AQA

Edexcel

Wind power, page 161, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel

Wind power, page 29, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel